Can vaping cause lung cancer? UAE doctors raise awareness, urge people to quit smoking

On World Lung Cancer Day, observed every August 1, doctors in the UAE once again emphasised the urgent need for people to quit smoking. They stress that vaping, often perceived as a less harmful alternative, is equally addictive and not a safe substitute for traditional smoking.

Doctors noted, “If regular tobacco cigarettes contain around 7,000 chemicals – many of which are toxic – there is no doubt that vaping, or the process of inhaling a vapour created by an e-cigarette (electronic cigarette) or vape pen, also contain toxic chemicals like traditional cigarettes."

Dr Raiza Hameed KH, specialist pulmonology at Aster Clinic Bur Dubai (AJMC), explained to Khaleej Times: “In vaping, the liquid is vapourised, and organic compounds like aldehydes are released, which causes intense damage to lungs. The chemicals in the vape lead to chronic lung inflammation, eventually leading to cancer.”

Objectively speaking, Dr Hameed noted: “E-cigarettes have not been around long enough and hence more research is still needed to understand the lung cancer risks associated with vaping. It takes a while for the cancer to develop, and we need to follow study subjects over a period of time.”

“But preliminary studies have shown that nicotine and other chemicals from vape can stimulate cancer development and growth,” she underscored.

“Vaping can cause chronic lung inflammation. It can also cause other health effects like throat irritation, chronic bronchitis, asthma, head ache, anxiety, heart disease, acute lung injury, etc. Dr Hameed continued.

Highly addictive

Is vaping bad for you? Doctors noted nicotine is the primary agent found in regular cigarettes and e-cigarettes, and it is highly addictive. Nicotine also raises blood pressure and spikes adrenaline that can increase heart rate and the likelihood of having a heart attack.

“People need to understand that e-cigarettes are potentially dangerous to your health,” noted Dr Gopal Chawla, specialist pulmonologist at NMC Specialty Hospital - Dubai Investments Park. He added: “There are emerging data that link chronic lung disease and asthma, and the dual use of e-cigarettes and (traditional) smoking with cardiovascular disease. Those who are vaping are exposing themselves to to all various chemicals that we don’t yet understand but are probably not safe.”

Not a tool to stop smoking

Dr Mitchelle Lolly, specialist pulmonologist at Prime Hospital, said: “An e-cigarette is composed of a battery, a heating element, and a place to hold a liquid. Although it was brought into the world to help people quit smoking, it was later found in various studies that it could be equally harmful and carcinogenic due to the various substances that are inhaled.”

Dr Lolly enumerated the chemicals found in vaping. She said: “The aerosol generated contains nicotine (may not be present), ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs, flavouring agents such as diacetyl (a chemical linked to a serious lung disease), cancer-causing chemicals and heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead.”